The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has arraigned two South Koreans, named Son Chun Gili and Jung Wookshin, alongside two Nigerians and their company, before a Federal High Court, in Lagos, over the alleged assault and detention of its officials.
The Nigerians and the company charged alongside the two South Koreans are; Akeem Idowu, Chikwendu Emeka and Solpia Nigeria Limited.
The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, are facing three charges bordering on obstruction, assault and detention preferred against them by FIRS.
FIRS Prosecuting Counsel, Moses Ideho, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on August 29, 2022, at 46, Iju road, in Lagos.
Ideho said that the defendants allegedly assaulted and detained Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, who visited their office to inspect the company’s books and documents for the purpose of a tax investigation.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 41(a) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and were punishable under Section 41(d) of the Federal inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Given the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending the determination of the charge and also asked for a trial date.
But the defendants’ legal team, asked the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms, saying that the bail applications have been filed and the same has been served on the prosecution.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Oweibo, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N1m with one surety each in like sum.
Justice Oweibo also ordered that the surety must be a landed property owner within the Court’s jurisdiction.
The judge adjourned the matter till November 16th.
